Tide Women's Track Begins Competition at the NCAA Championships
6/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Alabama women's track and field team had a successful opening day at the NCAA Championships in Sacramento, Calif. on Wednesday. Four of the Tide's five athletes who competed on day one advanced to the next round of their events. Beth Mallory, Tahesia Harrigan, Kou Luogon and Miruna Mataoanu all advanced for Alabama.
"It was a great day for us," Alabama head coach Sandy Fowler said. "We got four of our five through. The main focus for us was advancing and I believe we did what we had to do to stay focused. If you do what you did to get here, you will advance."
Mallory began defense of her title in the discus with the second best throw of the qualifying round. Mallory's throw of 177-10 advanced her to the final on Friday afternoon.
Luogon ran third in her heat of the 400m with a time of 52.66 which was the eighth fastest time of the first round. Luogon will compete in the semifinals of the event on Friday afternoon.
Harrigan ran 23.54 in the 200m to advance to the semifinal of the event on Friday and Mataoanu wrapped up the day for Alabama by advancing to the finals in the high jump by clearing a height of 5-10.75. The Mideast Champion was one of only four athletes to clear the height without a miss on Wednesday night.
Also for Alabama, LaTasha Pharr ran a time of 14.15 in the 100m hurdles.
The Tide will have a light day on Thursday with just three athletes competing. Mallory will open competition for the Tide on Thursday with the qualifying round of the hammer throw. Harrigan will compete in the first and second rounds of the 100m dash and Aymara Albury will round out the day for Alabama with the qualifying round of the shot put on Thursday night.
